Did you know vaccines prevent 4 to 5 million deaths worldwide per year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)?
Personal-finance website WalletHub released its report 2023’s States that Vaccinate the Most, which provides information about the share of vaccinated children to share of people without health insurance to the flu vaccination rate among adults.
In order to find out which states vaccinate most, WalletHub analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 16 key metrics.
States that Vaccinate Most
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Iowa
Vermont
Connecticut
States that Vaccinate Least
West Virginia
Alabama
Nevada
Texas
Oklahoma
Massachusetts has the highest influenza vaccination coverage for children, 77.70 percent, which 2.1 times higher than in Wyoming, the state with the lowest at 37.80 percent.
Minnesota has the highest share of adults with the tetanus vaccination, 82.60 percent, which is 1.5 times higher than in New Jersey, the state with the lowest at 53.50 percent.
South Dakota has the highest share of adults aged 60 and older with the zoster vaccination, 55.10 percent, which is 2.1 times higher than in Mississippi, the state with the lowest at 26.00 percent.
“Media can provide information about outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and provide visuals and information about what these diseases are. With many vaccines being on the market and used for decades, the incidence of the target diseases has decreased rapidly.”
Abram L. Wagner, Ph.D., MPH – Assistant Professor, University of Michigan
Minnesota has the highest share of children 19 to 35 months old living in poverty with the combined 7-vaccine series, 84.30 percent, which is 1.7 times higher than in California, the state with the lowest at 50.70 percent.
With employer-provided healthcare plan costs expected to rise by an average of 5.6% in 2023, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2023’s Healthiest & Unhealthiest Cities in America.
City leaders need to stay vigilant for any future health crises to safeguard the wellness of their residents.
When a city doesn’t take care of these many important issues, it can be hard to keep up good health.
To identify the places where health is a priority, WalletHub compared more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities across 43 key metrics. The data set ranges from the cost of a medical visit to fruit and vegetable consumption to the percentage of residents who are fully vaccinated.
Healthiest Cities
Unhealthiest Cities
1. San Francisco, CA
173. Corpus Christi, TX
2. Seattle, WA
174. Laredo, TX
3. Honolulu, HI
175. Fayetteville, NC
4. San Diego, CA
176. Memphis, TN
5. Salt Lake City, UT
177. Montgomery, AL
6. Portland, OR
178. Augusta, GA
7. Washington, DC
179. Columbus, GA
8. Minneapolis, MN
180. Shreveport, LA
9. Denver, CO
181. Gulfport, MS
10. Irvine, CA
182. Brownsville, TX
Orgul D. Ozturk
Department Chair and Professor, Economics, Darla Moore School of Business – University of South Carolina
Measures local authorities can take to improve health care
Cities need clean air, good public transportation, bike lanes, trails in the city or nearby, access to many green public spaces, and access to good healthy food (farmer markets, etc. – no food deserts). Cities, where retail and living spaces are integrated, are also on average healthier, I think.
Yilu Lin
Ph.D., MPH – Research Assistant Professor, Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine – Tulane University
What are the most important factors to consider in choosing a city that is good for your health?
I think the first and foremost factor is the accessibility of healthcare resources. The quality of healthcare facilities and the availability of medical professionals are important for maintaining health. Environmental factors like air quality and climate are always a consideration before choosing a city. City infrastructure such as well-maintained sidewalks, bike lanes, trails, gyms, community centers, and sports clubs can also contribute to the decision.
J. Douglas Thornton
Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy; Director, The Prescription Drug Misuse Education and Research (PREMIER) Center – University of Houston College of Pharmacy
Local authorities could improve our cities and states by making outdoor environments more welcoming to people. First, walkable cities and appropriate infrastructure help individuals engage with their communities and socialize across socio-economic strata. Second, reducing pollution and providing an opportunity for their citizens to engage with their physical environment is a way to improve the well-being of their constituents.
Key Stats
Fremont, California, has the lowest share of physically unhealthy adults, 6.20 percent, which is 2.8 times lower than in Newark, New Jersey, the city with the highest at 17.60 percent.
Laredo, Texas, has the lowest cost per doctor’s visit, $65.00, which is 3.6 times less expensive than in Juneau, Alaska, the city with the highest at $235.22.
Portland, Maine, has the lowest share of adults eating fruit less than once daily, 32.00 percent, which is 1.6 times lower than in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the city with the highest at 52.60 percent.
Glendale, Arizona, has the lowest average monthly cost for a fitness-club membership, $15.00, which is 7.1 times less expensive than in Juneau, Alaska, the city with the highest at $106.88.
In order to identify the overall healthiest cities in the U.S., WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across four key dimensions: 1) Health Care, 2) Food, 3) Fitness and 4) Green Space. The sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.
We evaluated the four dimensions using 43 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for a healthy lifestyle. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only. For metrics marked with two asterisks (**), we calculated the population size using the square root of the population in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.
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To determine where Americans have the best chance of remaining active, WalletHub compared to the 100 biggest U.S. cities across 36 key metrics. The data set ranges from the average monthly fitness-club fee to bike score and the share of physically inactive adults.
How can local communities encourage and facilitate active lifestyles among residents?
“An intentionally built, clean, and safe environment that allows physical activity opportunities to be accessible by all, regardless of socioeconomic status and/or physical ability – sidewalks, public parks, playgrounds, walking paths, indoor recreation spaces, and sports fields. Then, ensure residents are aware of what is available to them to support an active lifestyle. Organizing community events throughout the year that get people moving together would not only encourage active lifestyles but also help build a strong community.” Connie Tompkins, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, University of Vermont
“Building sidewalks or bike lanes when feasible would be great. Also, posting signs to raise awareness of sharing the road is important for safety. In parks, having trails or equipment would provide an opportunity to engage.” Steven K. Malin, Ph.D., FACSM – Associate Professor, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
How can we increase access to and use of gyms and recreational facilities? Would incentives –such as tax deductions for gym memberships – or penalties – such as higher health care premiums – be more effective?
“Establishing shared use agreements, which allow for public access to existing recreation facilities or spaces when not being used, is one strategy. And positive motivation rather than punitive is typically more effective when it comes to encouraging healthy behaviors, so incentives rather than penalties would be the way to go. Ultimately, for someone to engage in and maintain a physically active lifestyle, it needs to be easily accessible and they need to enjoy it.” Connie Tompkins, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, University of Vermont
What tips do you have for someone looking to maintain an active lifestyle on a budget?
“Just move. Being active does not mean one has to have expensive gadgets or equipment. A decent pair of running/cross-trainers can go a long way to support building up steps throughout the day – a good target is 7500/day. A practical way to build up to these step goals would be taking light to brisk walks for just 10-15 min after each main meal (e.g., breakfast lunch or dinner). Another thought would be to make ‘exercise snacks’ a part of your day.
Many of us get older, we sit for most of the working day given our jobs. If people can get up and walk around for 1-5 min an hour, that would help too.
In line with low-budget activity would be to do bodyweight exercises, including body squats, jumping jacks, lunges, push-ups, or planks for 1 to 5 minutes an hour, this could go a long way in curbing blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipid levels to even improving cognition throughout the day not to mention mental well-being.
Another idea could be to purchase resistance bands that help mix up the type of weight lifting one does. These are portable and easy to take to work or hotels when traveling. A jump rope too in addition is a great buy for a low cost that provides tremendous cardiovascular workouts. If inclined, one can buy a stability ball and use this as a chair. It would help build strength in core muscles and support low back pain.”- Steven K. Malin, Ph.D., FACSM – Associate Professor, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
“I love to encourage people to look for opportunities where they can ‘sneak’ in physical activity throughout their typical day – park in a spot further away from a building, take the stairs, walk while on the phone – these may seem small and insignificant, but small changes add up. One often overlooked budget-friendly resource is the public library. Public libraries frequently host yoga or other fitness classes, offer free passes to state parks, and exercise videos that patrons can physically check out or download. Also, many fitness and recreational facilities offer discounts based on professions (teachers, healthcare workers, students). And finally, there are countless, free, activity-based online- or app-based resources.” – Connie Tompkins, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, University of Vermont
Best Cities for an Active Lifestyle & Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle
1. Honolulu, HI91. Santa Ana, CA
2. San Francisco, CA92. Memphis, TN
3. New York, NY93. Fresno, CA
4. Chicago, IL94. Newark, NJ
5. Las Vegas, NV95. Wichita, KS
6. Cincinnati, OH96. Irving, TX7. San Diego, CA9
7. Winston-Salem, NC8. Madison, WI9
8. Fort Wayne, IN
9. Denver, CO99. Garland, TX1
10. Atlanta, GA100. North Las Vegas, NV
Best vs. Worst
Orlando, Florida, has the most sporting-goods stores (per square root of population), 0.386655, which is 11.9 times more than in North Las Vegas, Nevada, the city with the fewest at 0.032468.
Gilbert, Arizona, has the most public golf courses (per square root of population), 0.076537, which is 38.9 times more than in Laredo, Texas, the city with the fewest at 0.001969.
Lincoln, Nebraska, has the most fitness trainers and aerobics instructors per 100,000 residents, 180, which is 5.8 times more than in Bakersfield, California, the city with the fewest at 31.
New York has the most playgrounds (per square root of population), 0.671157, which is 13.5 times more than in Gilbert, Arizona, the city with the fewest at 0.049749.
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